Cool Weather Comfort Food: GOLUMPKI

GOLUMPKI

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls


Ingredients
1 head Green or Napa cabbage
1/2 lb. Lean ground beef
1/2 lb. Ground pork
1 c. Brown rice, cooked
1 large Egg, beaten
3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Frank’s® Original Hot Sauce
3 Plump garlic cloves, minced and divided
28 oz. can San Marzano tomatoes, divided
1 Bay leaf
1/2 c. Plain bread crumbs
1-1/2 c. Tomato sauce
1/2 tsp. Lemon juice
2 tbsp. Granulated sugar
1/2 Sweet onion, chopped or diced
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions
    • Bring a large pot (6+ quarts) of fresh, cold water to a boil.
    • Remove the tough outer leaves of the cabbage.
    • Season the boiling water with about 1 tbsp. of salt.  Immerse the trimmed cabbage in the boiling water.
    • Boil the head of cabbage for 4-5 minutes, until easily pierced with a paring knife.
    • Remove to a colander, drain, and allow to cool to room temperature.
    • In a saucepot, crush (or use a food mill) the tomatoes.  Add about 1/2 of the garlic, the tomato sauce, bay leaf, sugar and lemon juice.
    • Cook the sauce over medium heat for 10-12 minutes.  Stir frequently to prevent scorching.  
    • Set aside when cooked.
    • In a mixing bowl, combine the pork, beef, rice, onion, beaten egg, bread crumbs, about 1/2 of the garlic, and the rest of the tomatoes, crushed by hand.
    • Mix with hands until nicely combined.  Set aside.
    • Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
    • In a large (9” x 13”) baking dish, line the bottom with about 1 cup of the tomato sauce.
    • Peel off 12 leaves of the cabbage, trimming out any hard stems at the bottom of each leaf.
    • At the bottom end of each leaf, place about 4 tbsp. of the meat mixture.
    • Roll upward, tightly folding in the sides as you go, until an almost cylindrical roll is formed.
    • Place rolls – seam-side down! – in the sauced baking dish.
    • Cover the rolls with the remainder of the tomato sauce.
    • Bake for 50-60 minutes.
    • Allow to cool and set for about 5 minutes before serving.  (This will help prevent the rolls from falling apart.)
    • Serve with sweet and spicy chili sauce and/or sour cream.

SWEET & SPICY CHILI SAUCE

1/4 c. Cider vinegar 
1/4 c. Dark (or light) brown sugar 
1/4 c. Cold, fresh water 
1 tbsp. Sriracha

    • Place all ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat.  Stir to combine.
    • Cover and heat through until the sugar has melted.
    • Simmer until thickened and reduced by about 1/4, stirring frequently.
    • Pour into a pitcher and serve.

A favorite Buffalo dish handed down (with a few punch-ups thrown in!) from the considerable Polish-American community in the area.

I’m not entirely a cabbage fan, but let me tell you:  I am when this is what’s on offer!

From the blog, “WHAT A DUMPLING!” Copyright © 2015-2024, Davis Peterson All rights reserved. Subject to international copyright regulations.

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